In a few short weeks, the Virginia Asphalt Conference and Expo will take place at the Richmond Marriott-Downtown (December 5 and 6). The theme for VACE 2018 is Innovation – Driving the Future. From the keynote speaker, Mr. Ben Brock, President of Astec Industries, to Mrs. Cathy McGhee, Acting Director of Innovation in the Secretary of Transportation’s Office, presentations and discussion will center on innovative approaches and technologies.
Along with the popular Chief Engineer’s panel on Day 1, attendees will hear more about Virginia’s move toward Performance-Based Mix Design (PBMD) from State Materials Engineer Andy Babish and Associate Director of Research - Pavements Kevin McGhee. With the move toward PBMD, some asphalt mixes may incorporate higher percentages of recycled asphalt. Mr. Terry Young of T2ASCO will outline how plants can effectively run higher recycle and make well-performing mixes. One place where innovations are tested and refined is the NCAT Test Track. Dr. Buzz Powell will present on recent findings from the 2015 NCAT Cycle and plans for the 2018 Cycle. The day ends with an attendee reception in the Expo Hall where over 45 companies will be showcasing their goods and services.
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Fall 2018 saw several regional, national, and international conferences. In October, the Northeast Asphalt User Producer Group (NEAUPG) met in Atlantic City, New Jersey. NEAUPG covered a variety of asphalt-related topics including cold asphalt pavement recycling. VAA Executive Vice President Trenton Clark spoke on the evolution of cold pavement recycling in Virginia and highlighted the results at the NCAT Test Track, I-81 rehabilitation, and I-64 reconstruction. His presentation and other presentations from NEAUPG will be posted on the following website here.
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On a blessedly sunny, warm day in October, a group of Bransome, Inc. employees prepared to lay the first pass of a new Modified Chip-Seal process developed by their parent company. Called Heliocol, the product had only been used in France, but the locations were impressive — The Chateau at Versailles and the Chambord Castle. Now, Colonial Williamsburg was to be added to these historical sites.
Heliocol is a type of surface treatment that has a number of innovative features. Its natural appearance makes it unique to its surroundings. The color and type of aggregate used will dictate it’s final appearance. Unlike the typical emulsion that the industry is using, this emulsion has a butterscotch color when first applied, but once cured, has a translucent brown appearance. This allows the new surface treatment to take on the color of whichever aggregates are being used.
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In last month's issue, some of the RJS Scholarship Tournament winners were reported incorrectly. VAA apologizes for this error and has reprinted the correct standings here. Congratulations to the winners!
First Place Team: Dennis O’Connor, Ed Manley, David Stowell, Jordan Tarsovich
Second Place Team: Clint Diers, Brian Noonan, Tucker Braden
Closest to Line: Will Gatewood
Closest to Pin: Jimmy Coffman
Longest Drive: Jorden Tarsovich
Best Putt: Mal Kerley
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*Proficiency Testing: Time is Running Out*
If you or someone in your employ has taken Plant I, Plant II, or Mix Design and needs to complete Proficiency training to become certified, time is running out! Please contact Judith Calvert at Germanna immediately to schedule a testing session. Proficiency proctors, as well as time to test, is very limited between now and the close of the 2018 class year on December 15. Anyone who fails to complete proficiency training before the 15th will not complete the requirements for MCS certification and therefore will not receive certification. All courses that no longer have active certifications will need to be repeated in 2019 at full cost. Please make sure this does not happen to you!
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With the increased focus on workforce development and apprenticeship programs in today’s workplace, the need for coaching and mentoring has continued to grow, which in turn positions the value of training to ultimately increase. The challenge is not merely training mentors (and managers) to coach, but also positioning mentors to practice coaching situationally.
Let’s say management at Company A sends an employee to a classroom or e-learning course on Asphalt Plant Safety (any training topic could apply here). In the “old days,” managers would simply sign their employees up, send them off, and rarely follow up after to investigate the training’s value.
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GENERAL INDUSTRIAL STORMWATER VPDES PERMIT OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
As authorized by the State Water Control Board in September, DEQ initiated a public comment period on the reissuance of the General Industrial Stormwater VPDES Permit. The public comment period runs through December 28, 2018.
As we have reported, the general permit includes helpful changes that streamline and clarify the requirements of the permit. In particular, the permit does not require facilities to continue to sample for nitrogen, phosphorus in sediment for purposes of Chesapeake Bay TMDL requirements if, after four sampling events, it is demonstrated that the facility does not trigger the requirement for a TMDL Action Plan.
We will be drafting a letter on behalf of VAA in support of those changes, and highlighting a few areas where additional clarification is needed. If you have a comment you would like to see included in the VAA comment letter, please let us know by sending an email to Caroline at cfahed@vaasphalt.com by December 12, 2018.
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Assistant Materials Engineer Bill Bailey announced his retirement from VDOT. Bill has been with VDOT for over 40 years and has served in various positions within the Materials Division. A chemist by degree, Bill worked in the chemistry and physical labs testing asphalt binders and emulsions as well as concrete materials. In 1998, Bill was named Assistant State Materials Engineer with responsibility for the Asphalt, Chemistry and Training programs. Over the next 10 years, Bill was instrumental in the implementation of SUPERPAVE and expansion on the use of SMA in Virginia. VAA would like to congratulate Bill on his retirement and wish him well.
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 The Asphalt Recycling & Reclaiming Association (ARRA) recently announced that it would honor Dr. Brian Diefenderfer, Senior Research Scientist, VTRC, as the recipient of its 2019 Charles R. Valentine Award for Excellence in Cold Recycling.
This award is presented annually by ARRA to public officials and consulting engineers and is given in tribute to their outstanding contributions to the asphalt recycling industry.
Join VAA in congratulating Brian on this outstanding achievement.
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 REGISTRATION OPEN
Conference Attendees & Expo Exhibitors (open to all)
Richmond Marriott Downtown
December 5-6, 2018
Richmond, VA
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SAVE THE DATE
March 5, 2019 - Fredericksburg | Fredericksburg Expo Center
March 13, 2019 - Roanoke | Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
March 19, 2019 - Richmond | The Westin Richmond
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DIAMOND
Allan Myers
American Paving Fabrics
Associated Asphalt
Bitumar USA
Boxley
Branscome, Inc.
Branscome Paving Company
Chemung Contracting Corp.
Colony Construction, Inc.
James River Equipment
National Asphalt MFG. Corp.
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Slurry Pavers
Superior Paving Corp.
S. L. Williamson Co., Inc.
PLATINUM
Astec, Inc.
B & S Contracting, Inc.
Blacklidge Emulsions, Inc.
Carter Machinery Company, Inc.
F. O. Day
Lee Hy Paving Corp.
Virginia Paving Company
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